A rich owner doesn’t guarantee a team will be among the NBA betting favorites for the title at the BetMGM online sportsbook, but the spending power of the wealthiest NBA owners can be a factor to consider for bettors.
With that in mind, who are the richest owners in the National Basketball Association?
NBA Owners’ Net Worth, Ranked
| Rank | Name | Team | Net Worth |
| 1 | Steve Ballmer | Los Angeles Clippers | $145 billion |
| 2 | Miriam Adelson, Patrick Dumont | Dallas Mavericks | $40 billion |
| 3 | Dan Gilbert | Cleveland Cavaliers | $29.3 billion |
| 4 | Robert J. Pera | Memphis Grizzlies | $29 billion |
| 5 | Stan Kroenke | Denver Nuggets | $24.3 billion |
| 6 | Micky Arison | Miami Heat | $19.4 billion |
| 7 | Tilman Fertitta | Houston Rockets | $13.8 billion |
| 8 | Josh Harris | Philiadelphia 76ers | $13 billion |
| 9 | Joseph Tsai | Brooklyn Nets | $12.9 billion |
| 10 | Tony Ressler | Atlanta Hawks | $10.6 billion |
| 11 | Tom Gores | Detriot Pistons | $10.1 billion |
| 12 | Mat Ishbia | Phoenix Suns | $9.1 billion |
| 13 | Jimmy Haslam | Milwaukee Bucks | $9 billion |
| 14 | Gayle Benson | New Orleans Pelicans | $7.9 billion |
| 15 | Herb Simon | Indiana Pacers | $7.8 billion |
| 16 | James Dolan | New York Knicks | $7 billion |
| 17 | Josh Kushner | Los Angeles Lakers | $5.2 billion |
| 18 | Marc Lore | Minnesota Timberwolves | $4 billion |
| 19 | Ted Leonsis | Washington Wizards | $3.9 billion |
| 20 | Ryan Smith | Utah Jazz | $3.3 billion |
| 21 | William Chisholm | Boston Celtics | $3.2 billion |
| 22 | Larry Tanenbaum | Toronto Raptors | $2.8 billion |
| T-23 | Joe Lacob | Golden State Warriors | $2.3 billion |
| T-23 | Jerry Reinsdorf | Chicago Bulls | $2.3 billion |
| T-23 | Tom Dundon | Portland Trail Blazers | $2.3 billion |
| 26 | Dan DeVos | Orlando Magic | $2.1 billion |
| T-27 | Vivek Ranadivé | Sacremento Kings | $800 million |
| T-27 | Peter J. Holt | San Antonio Spurs | $800 million |
| T-29 | Gabe Plotkin | Charlotte Hornets | $400 million |
| T-29 | Clay Bennett | Oklahoma City Thunder | $400 million |
Who Are the Wealthiest NBA Owners?
1. Steve Ballmer, Los Angeles Clippers: $145 billion
Steve Ballmer bought the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion from Donald Sterling in 2014.
Ballmer was Microsoft’s CEO, and his stake in the company helped him generate billions of dollars.
2. Miriam Adelson, Patrick Dumont: Dallas Mavericks: $40 billion
The Adelsons and Dumonts purchased 69% of the Dallas Mavericks for $3.5 billion in 2023 from longtime owner Mark Cuban.
Miriam Adelson and her late husband, Sheldon, founded Las Vegas Sands Corp.
3. Dan Gilbert: Cleveland Cavaliers: $29.3 billion
Dan Gilbert bought the Cavaliers from Gordon Gund for $375 million in January 2005, a then-record price for an NBA team.
Gilbert is the co-founder and majority owner of Rocket (formerly Quicken Loans) and the founder of Rock Ventures.
4. Robert J. Pera: Memphis Grizzlies: $29 billion
Robert J. Pera bought the Memphis Grizzlies from Michael Heisley for $377 million.
Pera worked at Apple before becoming the founder and chief executive officer of Ubiquiti Inc.
5. Stan Kroenke: Denver Nuggets: $24.3 billion
Stan Kroenke bought the Denver Nuggets for $450 million from Charlie Lyons in July 2000.
He founded Kroenke Group in 1983, a real estate development firm known for building shopping centres and apartment buildings. The Kroenkes own several other sports teams, including the Los Angeles Rams and Arsenal.
6. Micky Arison: Miami Heat: $19.4 billion
Micky Arison bought the Miami Heat for $68 million from Billy Cunningham and Lewis Schaffel in February 1995.
Arison is the chairman of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise operator.
7. Tilman Fertitta: Houston Rockets: $13.8 billion
Tilman Fertitta bought the Houston Rockets for $2.2 billion from Leslie Alexander in 2017.
He is the richest restaurant owner in the world, as he owns Landry’s, Inc.
8. Josh Harris: Philadelphia 76ers: $13 billion
Josh Harris, alongside David Blitzer, bought the Philadelphia 76ers from Comcast Spectacor for $280 million in 2011.
Harris is also the managing partner of the New Jersey Devils and Washington Commanders.
9. Joseph Tsai: Brooklyn Nets: $12.9 billion
Joseph Tsai bought the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center for a total of $3.3 billion from Mikhail Prokhorov in September 2019 after buying 49% of the franchise for $1 billion in April 2018.
Tsai is the co-founder and chairman of Alibaba Group.
10. Tony Ressler: Atlanta Hawks: $10.6 billion
Tony Ressler acquired the Atlanta Hawks alongside a group of investors for $850 million in 2015.
Ressler co-founded Apollo Global Management in 1990 and Ares Management in 1997.
11. Tom Gores: Detroit Pistons: $10.1 billion
Tom Gores bought 51% of the Detroit Pistons in June 2011 and the other 49% from Platinum Equity, which he owns, in September 2015.
12. Mat Ishbia: Phoenix Suns: $9.1 billion
Mat Ishbia bought the Phoenix Suns for $4 billion from Robert Sarver in 2023.
Ishbia is the chairman and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage.
13. Jimmy Haslam: Milwaukee Bucks: $9 billion
Marc Lasry sold his 25% stake in the team to Jimmy and Dee Haslam in April 2023.
Jimmy Haslam is the majority owner of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
14. Gayle Benson: New Orleans Pelicans: $7.9 billion
Gayle Benson’s late husband, Tom, bought the then-New Orleans Hornets for $338 million from the NBA in 2012.
She also owns the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.
15. Herb Simon: Indiana Pacers: $7.8 billion
Herb Simon purchased the Indiana Pacers from Sam Nassi and Frank Mariani for $11 million in 1983.
Simon founded Simon Property Group, one of the world’s largest real estate investment trusts, alongside his brother, Melvin.
16. James Dolan: New York Knicks: $7 billion
The Dolans have owned the New York Knicks since 1997.
The Dolan family founded Cablevision in 1973 and sold it to Altice USA for $17.7 billion in June 2016.
17. Josh Kushner: Los Angeles Lakers: $5.2 billion
Josh Kushner and Bob Iger bought the Los Angeles Lakers from Mark Walter for $12.5 billion in August 2026. Walter flipped the team for a $2.5 billion profit little over a year after purchasing it.
A venture capitalist, Kushner is the founder of Thrive Capital and co-founder of health insurance company Oscar Health. His brother, Jared, is the son-in-law of Donald Trump.
18. Marc Lore: Minnesota Timberwolves: $4 billion
Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez purchased the Minnesota Timberwolves from Glen Taylor for $1.5 billion in 2025.
Lore is the founder, chairman, and CEO of the Wonder Group and was the president and CEO of Walmart U.S. eCommerce.
19. Ted Leonsis: Washington Wizards: $3.9 billion
Ted Leonsis and his company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, purchased 56% of the Washington Wizards and Capital One Arena from Abe Pollin’s estate for about $310 million in 2010 to grant them full ownership of the team.
20. Ryan Smith: Utah Jazz: $3.3 billion
Ryan Smith bought the Utah Jazz for $1.66 billion from Gail Miller in December 2020.
Smith cofounded Qualtrics in 2002 with his brother, Jared, and father, Scott.
21. William Chisholm: Boston Celtics: $3.2 billion
Bill Chisholm led a group that purchased the Boston Celtics from Wyc Grousbeck for $6.1 billion in 2025.
Chisholm is the managing partner and chief investment officer for STG Partners, LLC.
22. Larry Tanenbaum: Toronto Raptors: $2.8 billion
Larry Tanenbaum is the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Raptors, the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, and MLS’s Toronto FC.
T-23. Joe Lacob: Golden State Warriors: $2.3 billion
Joe Lacob bought the Golden State Warriors for $450 million from Chris Cohan in 2010.
Lacob was previously a partner at Kleiner Perkins, where he led investments in more than 50 startup companies.
T-23. Jerry Reinsdorf: Chicago Bulls: $2.3 billion
Jerry Reinsdorf paid $16 million for the Chicago Bulls and owned the franchise during the years Michael Jordan helped the team win six championships.
He also owns the MLB’s Chicago White Sox.
T-23. Tom Dundon: Portland Trail Blazers: $2.3 billion
Tom Dundon purchased the Portland Trail Blazers for a little over $4 billion from the estate of Paul Allen in 2025.
Dundon is the chairman and managing partner of Dundon Capital Partners and owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.
26. Dan DeVos: Orlando Magic: $2.1 billion
The late Richard DeVos, co-founder of Amway, bought the Orlando Magic from William duPont III for $85 million in 1991.
Dan DeVos, Richard’s son, has been the chairman of the Magic since 2011.
T-27. Vivek Ranadivé: Sacramento Kings: $800 million
The Maloofs sold 65% of the Kings to Vivek Ranadivé for $348 million in May 2013.
Ranadivé, the first person of Indian descent to have an ownership stake in an NBA franchise, founded Teknekron Software Systems and TIBCO Software, Inc.
T-27. Peter J. Holt: San Antonio Spurs: $800 million
Peter J. Holt is the chairman and CEO of Spurs Sports & Entertainment, as his father, Peter M. Holt, became the team’s majority owner in 1996.
Peter J. Holt inherited HOLT Group from his father.
T-29. Gabe Plotkin: Charlotte Hornets: $400 million
Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall bought the Charlotte Hornets for $3 billion from Michael Jordan in 2023.
Plotkin is the founder and chief investment officer of Tallwoods Capital LLC.
T-29. Clay Bennett: Oklahoma City Thunder: $400 million
Clay Bennett bought the Oklahoma City Thunder from Howard Schultz for $350 million in 2006, when the franchise was still the Seattle SuperSonics.
Bennett is the chairman of Dorchester Capital.
Who Is the Richest NBA Owner?
Steve Ballmer is the richest NBA owner.
The Los Angeles Clippers owner is worth $145 billion, making him the wealthiest owner in sports, according to Forbes.
Ballmer has acquired most of his wealth from his ownership stake in Microsoft and made roughly $955 million from selling 39.3 million Microsoft shares in 2003.
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